Birds

Winter Wildlife

January 2, 2017 by Earthwatcher, posted in American River Parkway, Bird Photography, Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Otter, Photography, Sacramento

RIver Otter - Perspective 4 — River Otter – Perspective 4

It’s fun to be in Northern California in the winter. We are part of the Pacific Flyway, so we get many birds, primarily waterfowl, who winter over. But even in my backyard I see Oregon Juncos and a species of Goldfinch that spends its summers in the Sierra foothills. Though my passion is landscapes, photographing this wildlife is fun because watching them go about their business of living is fun.

I’ve been out twice in the last two weeks photographing and enjoying the wildlife. On one trip, I went to 2 of the wildlife refuges that have been built along the flyway. Some years ago, land was set aside as a safe haven for migrating waterfowl. Levees were built and fields flooded so they could live and eat. This helped farmers by keeping the birds off their cropland. A win-win situation, enjoyed by birders, photographers and duck hunters. On the day I visited the refuges, raptors became my focus. They benefit from the migrating waterfowl as well.

This past week, I got to spend an hour watching a River Otter and an Egret. They appeared to be helping each other feed. Otters always seem to be playing even as they feed.

I hope you enjoy these images.

Regards

Larry

Note: Click on image to view at larger size

Image of Juvenille Black Crowned Night Heron — Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron

Image of Red Shouldered Hawk — Red Shouldered Hawk

Image of River Otter - Perspective 1 — River Otter – Perspective 1

Image of River Otter and Egret — River Otter and Egret

Image of Peregrine Falcon — Peregrine Falcon

These and other images are available to view and purchase at my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us.

Birds of South Africa

November 9, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, South Africa

Here is a sample of the birds we saw while in South Africa. There were many interesting, colorful birds. I was especially captivated by the Lilac Breasted Roller,the Purple Crested Turaco and the varieties of sunbirds and kingfishers. There are many more examples on my website (www.earthwatcher.us). I hope you enjoy the images. I encourage you to look at the others that are on my website because I know you will enjoy them also.

Regards

Larry

These images can been seen at a larger size by clicking on the image

Saddle Beaked Stork — Saddle Billed Stork

Purple Crested Turaco (Lourie) - Perspective 2 — Purple Crested Turaco

Orange Breasted Sunbird — Greater Double Collared Sunbird

Hornbills

November 5, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, South Africa, Wildlife

Image of Southern Ground Hornbill - Perspective 2 — Southern Ground Hornbill

One of the many species of birds we saw while in South Africa were hornbills. They are beautiful birds that cast a striking pose even when flying. I hope you enjoy these images I am sharing.

Regards,

Larry

Click on image to view in larger size.

Image of Yellow Billed Hornbill - Perspective 2 — Pair of Yellow Billed Hornbills

Image of Red Billed Hornbill — Red Billed Hornbill

Image of Southern Ground Hornbill - Perspective 1 — Pair of Southern Ground Hornbills

Image of Yellow Billed Hornbill - Perspective 1 — Yellow Billed Hornbill

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us

The African Fish Eagle

October 4, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Eagle, Fujifilm Cameras, images, Photography, South Africa, Wildlife

African Fish Eagle in Flight - Perspective 1 — African Fish Eagle In Flight – Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

The African Fish Eagle was the most common large raptor we saw on our trip to South Africa. It is a beautiful bird that is a cousin to our American Bald Eagle. I learned from my friend Kevin that both the African Fish Eagle and the Bald Eagle belong to the family of fish eagles. They are distinguished from the family of booted or true eagles by their legs. True eagles have feathers on their lower legs. I am a novice birder and never realized there were different types of eagles. By the way, our Golden Eagle is a snake eagle; yet another type.

Our most interesting encounter was watching a fish eagle being chased by a Blacksmith Lapwing. I guess the eagle was too close to a nest. It was fun watching it fend off numerous attacks.

I hope you enjoy these images of these magnificent birds,

Regards,

Larry

African FIsh Eagle Feeding - Perspective 1 — African Fish Eagle Feeding – Perspective 1, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

African FIsh Eagle Feeding - Perspective 2 — African Fish Eagle Feeding – Perspective 2, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

African FIsh Eagle Fending Lapwing Attack - Perspective 1 — African Fish Eagle Fending Lapwing Attack – Perspective 1, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

African FIsh Eagle Fending Lapwing Attack - Perspective 2 — African Fish Eagle Fending Lapwing Attack – Perspective 2, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

African FIsh Eagle and Great Egret — African Fish Eagle and Great Egret, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

Note: These and other images are available for sale on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting me.

A Visit to San Diego Zoo Safari Park

March 10, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Wildlife

With an impending trip to Kruger National Park in South Africa, this year is shaping up to be a year where I concentrate on wildlife. My love has always been more intimate landscapes, so I truly enjoy the opportunities to shoot wildlife in the context of a landscape. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, an 1,800 acre wildlife sanctuary that displays animals in large open enclosures where they can roam and exercise. Though the animals are the highlight, it is landscaped beautifully and is well worth a visit. I hope to get back sometime and spend more time photographing both the landscapes and the wildlife.

On this visit, it was overcast and rainy. Even so, the wildlife was out and active. I hope you enjoy these images from my visit.

Larger images of these and other wildlife can be seen at my Birds, Wildlife and Insects gallery on my website: http://www.earthwatcher.us.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park, MAR 2016

Wildlife in Carson Valley, NV

March 1, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in art for sale, Bird Photography, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Wild Horses

Long Eared Owl, Washoe Lake State Park, NV, FEB 2016

This past weekend, a few of my friends and I did a wildlife shoot in Carson Valley, near Minden, NV. Our guide was John Humphrey, a local wildlife photographer (www.akawolf.com). He provided us with access to private lands that we would not have had access to ourselves. It was a beautiful morning and we got plenty of interesting opportunities to shoot. Hope you enjoy these images.

Great Horned Owl

Bald Eagles in Nesting Tree — Bald Eagles and Nest, Minden, MV FEB 2016

WIld Horse — Part of a Band of Wild Horses, Minden, NV FEB 2016

Great Horned Owl Chasing a Magpie — Great Horned Owl Chasing Magpie, Minden, MV FEB 2016

WIld Horses — Part of a Band of Wild Horses, Minden, NV FEB 2016

Wild Colt Nursing — Nursing Colt, Part of a Band of Wild Horses, Minden, NV FEB 2016

February 21, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in American River, American River Parkway, Bird Photography, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, landscape, landscape images, landscape photos, Photography, Waterfowl, Wm Pond Park

I am not typically a bird photographer. When I do shoot birds, I try to take them in the context of their environment, trying to answer the questions: this is who I am and this is how I survive. Living in the Sacramento, CA area affords me the opportunity to shoot migrating winter birds but, I find I really like to go back to the usual suspects – herons, egrets, Canada geese and mallards, hawks. Learning about them, observing their behavior gives me a lot of pleasure.

The last week or so, I’ve had the added pleasure of trying out my new Fujinon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens and 1.4X Tele-converter. Its a great lens but its been more than a year since I shot with a long lens so, I made a few depth of field mistakes. Oh well, I guess I just need to go out and shoot more.

Anyway, here are a few images I shot. I hope you enjoy them.